Educational game board

• US 8,851,477 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2012
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Ward
• Original Assignee: Bruce Ward
• Inventors: Ward, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendiratta, Vishu K.
• Application Number:
  US13/623,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 273/237, 273/238, 273/280, 273/287
• US Class Current: 273/287
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00274 with or designed as a turntable, lazy Susan
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00514 Rim or side edge with storing space for objects, e.g. unused playing pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0063 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00946 with a storage for playing pieces next to the playing field rim with storing space A63F2003/00514
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0426 Spelling games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2404 Keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/241 Touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2419 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/242 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2425 Scanners, e.g. for scanning regular characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2432 actuated by a sound, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2442 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2457 Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2011/0058 using electronic means A63F2011/0053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00574 Connections between board and playing pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/04 Geographical or like games ; Educational games educational appliances in general G09B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

An educational device comprising a game board demarcated with a plurality of positions, each position having associated with it and actuator, actuation of which causes the communication device to provide instruction to the player as to what the player is supposed to do. A player can activate a random number generator to determine how many positions to move. Once instruction has been received, the player utilizes game pieces on the game board to execute the instruction. By going through this process, any player can learn a particular skill or gain particular knowledge that can be applied in life.

Claims

1. An educational tool, comprising:

a. base;

b. a circular board rotatably mounted on the base, the circular board comprising;

i. a top surface having a center and terminating at a perimeter edge, wherein the to surface is magnetic,

ii. a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the bottom surface mounted on the base,

iii. a plurality of positions on the top surface uniformly and angularly spaced apart along the perimeter edge,

iv. a plurality of actuators on the top surface, one actuator adjacent to one position, and

v. a receiving portion positioned on the top surface radially inwardly relative to the plurality of positions;

c. a plurality of game pieces randomly positioned on the top surface radially inwardly relative to the plurality of positions, wherein each game piece is magnetized;

d. a plurality of player pieces positionable on the board;

e. a communication device operatively connected to each actuator, wherein actuation of any actuator activates the communication device to give a specific instruction regarding the game piece; and

f. a random number generator.

2. The educational tool of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises an audio component to give oral instructions.

3. The education tool of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a visual component to give visual instuctions.

4. The educational tool of claim 3, wherein the visual component is a touch screen located at the center of the board.

5. The educational tool of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion comprises a sensor to determine which of the game pieces were placed on the receiving portion.

6. Th educutional tool of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises an optical sensor to determine whether the specific instruction was executed correctly.

7. The educational tool of claim 1, wherein the board further comprises at least two pieces fastened together with a hinge to make the board foldable.

8. An educational at tool, comprising:

a. a base;

b. a board rotatably mounted the base, the board comprising;

i. a top surface having a center and terminating at at least one perimeter edge,

ii. a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the bottom surface mounted on the base,

iii. a plurality of positions on the top surface uniformly spread along the at least one perimeter edge,

iv. a plurality actuators, one actuator adjacent to one position, and

v. a receiving portion positioned on the top surface,

vi. wherein the board further comprises at least two pieces connected together by a hinge for the board to be foldable;

c. a plurality of game pieces positionable on the top surface centrally inwardly relative to at least one of the plurality of positions, but outside the receiving portion, wherein each game piece is configured to reversibly fasten to the top surface;

d. a plurality of player pieces positionable on the board; and

e. a communication device operatively connected to each actuator, wherein actuation of any actuator activates the communication device to give a specific instruction regarding the game piece.

9. The educational tool of claim 8. wherein the to surface is magnetized,

10. The educational tool of claim 8, wherein the game pieces are randomly distributed on the to surface.

11. The educational tool of claim 8, wherein the communication device comprises an audio component to give oral instructions.

12. The education tool of claim 8, wherein the communication device comprises a visual component to give visual instructions.

13. The educational tool of claim 12, wherein the visual component comprises a touch screen.

14. The educational tool of claim 8, wherein the communication device is a computing device comprising a processor and memory, wherein the computing device is configured to give the specific instruction in response to actuation of one of the actuators, and wherein the actuator communicates with the communication device wirelessly.

15. The education tool of claim 8, wherein the communication device comprises a sensor to determine whether the specific instruction was executed correctly.

16. The educational tool of claim 8, wherein the receiving portion comprises a sensor to determine which of the game pieces were placed on the receiving portion.

17. A method for teaching, comprising:

a. providing an educational device, comprising;

i. a base;

ii. a board rotatably mounted on the base, the board comprising;

(a) a top surface having a center and terminating at at least one perimeter edge,

(b) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the bottom surface mounted on the base,

(c) a plurality of positions on the top surface uniformly spread along the at least one perimeter edge,

(d) a plurality of actuators, one actuator adjacent to one position, and

(e) receiving portion positioned on the top surface centrally inwardly relative to at least one of the plurality positions;

iii. a plurality of game pieces positionable on the top surface centrally inwardly relative to at least one of the plurality of positions, wherein each game piece comprises a reversible fastening mechanism;

iv. a plurality of player pieces positionable on the board;

v. a communication device operatively connected to each actuator, wherein actuation of any actuator activates the communication device to give a specific instruction regarding the game piece;

b. providing a random number generator actuatable by the players to determine a number of positions to move the player pieces, in turn;

c. giving an instruction to a first player in response to each actuation of one of the plurality of actuators corresponding to one of the plurality of positions landed on by the first player in response to actuation of the random number generator;

d. determining whether the instruction was executed correctly, and

e. rotating the board to accommodate a next player.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the communication device is an electronic computing device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the random number generator is provided by the communication device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein determining whether the instruction was executed correctly is determined by a sensor.